“And now you shall.”
“But we have already purchased a wedding dress. I was to have a final fitting later today.”
“That was your backup dress, in case your mother’s dress didn’t arrive on time. The salon consultant was in on my little plan. I hope you don’t mind. I’ve made all the arrangements. She’s on standby to do any alterations you might need and has guaranteed the gown will be ready in two days. But Gabriella, the other dress is also beautiful on you. It’s really your choice.”
She grinned. “Of course I will wear my mother’s dress.”
They both studied the dress more carefully now. In a Cinderella design with a heart-shaped neckline, cinched waist and flared skirt with an ivory lace overlay throughout, Cara could tell that Gabriella’s size and shape greatly resembled Elena del Toro’s. “It doesn’t look like it’ll need much altering.”
“No?” Gabriella smiled. “Oh, Cara, I cannot thank you enough.” She set the gown down carefully on the sofa and gave Cara a loving hug. “You are a good friend,” she said, breaking away to look into her eyes. “I will forever remember your thoughtfulness when I think about my wedding day.”
“I’m glad. Will you try it on? I’m dying to see it on you.”
“Sí. Yes, I am anxious to wear it. Will you help me?”
“It’s my duty as your maid of honor.”
“Come,” Gabriella said as both of them lifted the dress from different ends. “Let us see how well it fits.”
* * *
Cara stepped out onto the veranda and gave Gabriella a hug. “Everything is all set. I think we’ve got your wedding under control. All you have to do is show up at your brother’s house in two days and look beautiful. I have no doubt you will.”
“You are sweet to say that, Cara.”
“The dress is gorgeous. All that delicate lace. I love it. I know Chance will love it, too.”
Chance and Alex strode up the path. “What will I love?” Chance took his place beside Gabriella and kissed her. “Aside from you?”
Cara hadn’t noticed Alex’s car pull up and she avoided looking at him now, but she sensed his intense stare. His close presence unnerved her. She’d seen Dr. Jayne Belfort yesterday and the obstetrician had asked about the baby’s father’s medical history. Cara told the doctor she’d take the paperwork home and have it filled out by her next appointment, but she wondered how long she could get away with hiding her pregnancy. Now her clothes were fitting snugly, and aside from buying a whole new wardrobe, Cara’s days of secrecy were numbered.
“Nothing,” Cara said to Chance, “that would interest you.” She smiled at him. “Gabriella and I had some wedding details to go over.”
“Thank you for giving us a hand in this, Cara.” He set his arm around Gabriella’s shoulders. “We appreciate all that you and Alex are doing for us.”
Cara spared a glance at Alex and found amusement lighting his dark brown eyes. They’d both planned the ruse to get Chance out of the house. Alex wasn’t supposed to deliver Chance for another thirty minutes. After a business meeting at TCC, they were to play nine holes of golf with Zach Lassiter and Josh Gordon. But they’d arrived earlier than Cara had expected and her sneaking suspicions flared. Had Alex meant to run into her here? If he’d stuck to the timetable, Cara wouldn’t be staring at his handsome face right now.
“You’re welcome, Chance. It’s my pleasure,” she said.
“As it is mine. I’m happy if my sister is happy,” Alex said.
“I am,” Gabriella said, beaming with love.
“Would you two like to stay and join us for dinner?” Chance asked.
“Oh, boy,” Cara said. “I would I love to, but I’ve got a few more things to tend to before the wedding.”
“I, too, have plans for tonight,” Alex said. “But thank you.”
“Yeah, great golf game, Alex,” Chance said with a wry smirk. “You beat us again.” Chance turned to his fiancée. “Gabriella, it seems your brother’s going to be funding a college scholarship for the employees’ children at the club. He’s made a generous proposal.”
“Alejandro, I didn’t know that,” Gabriella said, her brows lifting. “Tell me about it.”
“I didn’t say anything because I wasn’t sure it would be approved. But it’s official now. I hope to have the details written up and the scholarship program started by next fall. I plan to name it the Elena del Toro Educational Fund.”
Gabriella’s lips trembled as she gazed at her brother with eyes brimming with admiration. “That’s...that’s...oh, Alejandro.”
Alex’s generosity touched Cara deeply. It wasn’t just baby and hormones that stirred her emotions. Alex was honoring his mother in a beautiful way.
“It’s a wonderful idea,” Cara found herself saying.
“You think so, Cara?” Alex asked, his gaze soft and warm.
“Yes.” Tenderness swept into her heart, an emotion she couldn’t afford. “I’d better get going.” She said a final farewell to everyone and dashed down the walkway leading to her car.
She was ready to open her door by the time Alex caught up. “Cara, wait.”
With her hand on the handle, she turned to him. “Alex, I really have a dozen things to do—”
“Are you going to visit Mercy?”
Heat climbed her throat. The mention of her horse blistered her mind. How would she ever be able to enjoy her visits with Mercy anymore without thinking about hiding in that old office with Alex and reliving the exciting things that had happened in there? “Yes, I’m planning to make a quick stop to see Mercy. And no, I don’t want any company.”
The coffee-brown of his eyes darkened as a smile played on his lips. “You just let me know anytime you do need assistance in the stables,” he said. “It’s something I dream about at night.”
His candor and the winsome tone of his voice begged her to confess that she dreamed of it, too. But she held her tongue. “I really do have to go.”
“I need your help,” he said as she began to turn away. “With the wedding.”
“You do?” His nod and contrite expression gave him credibility. “What’s wrong?”
He ran a hand along his jawline and then scratched his chin as if hating to admit something. “I didn’t think hosting a small wedding would be a problem. I should’ve hired an event planner. I have questions about so many things. I don’t want to burden my sister with the details. I want this to be perfect for her.”
It was noble of him. He sounded sincere. “What details?”
Alex reached into his pocket and came up with a list. She took the paper from his hand and glanced at a minimum of twelve questions. Cara looked up into his baffled face with a note of sympathy for him. “Looks like these things have to be addressed.”
“Will you help?”
“Of course.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
They arranged for her to meet at his house first thing in the morning.
Cara wasn’t looking forward to seeing Rodrigo del Toro, who was living there temporarily, but she did want Gabriella and Chance’s wedding to be perfect.
She had that in common with Alex.
* * *
“Okay, cross number nine off the list,” Cara said to Alex. “We’re making headway and I can see it all coming together now.”
“You do have a flair for this, Cara.” Alex stood beside her in the backyard. She’d made the decision to have the ceremony on the grassy area that overlooked the Pine Valley Golf Course. The florist would decorate the gazebo, and white canvas-backed chairs would line up on either side of the aisle in rows of five. They expected no more than forty people, the closest of friends and family only.
Hors d’oeuvres and champagne would flow over into the pool area and the a
ctual meal would be served on a large stone-and-wood patio area closest to the kitchen.
“As for decorations, the grounds are so lovely, the home so beautiful, we only need candles and flowers to set the mood. Nothing extravagant. Simple and elegant will work just fine. I’ll call the florist and double-check that we’re on the same page.”
“Okay, number ten is history.” Alex slashed another question off his list.
It was only ten in the morning. Cara might possibly make it to the office before lunch. She’d taken some time off to help plan the wedding and she didn’t want her day ruined by coming up against her father’s wrath.
Alex was diligent this morning, sticking to the agenda. Deep in concentration, his questions were thoughtful and intelligent. He really did need her help. He had no eye for transforming his home for a wedding event, while everything seemed to come to Cara easily. She could envision it in her mind.
Alex had made sure his father wasn’t skulking around. She didn’t ask, and he didn’t volunteer anything except to say when he’d opened the door to her, “No need to worry. You won’t be running into my father this morning.” That, too, was thoughtful, and she appreciated him lessening the stress of her day.
By eleven o’clock, she and Alex had worked out all the questions on the list. She’d gone over every detail on his end and felt assured all would run smoothly. “I think the wedding will be beautiful.”
Alex smiled, his focus now redirected and aimed fully at her. “I agree. You are amazing.”
Alex’s compliment brought tingles and comforting strokes to her battered ego. “Thank you, Alex.”
He nodded. “I only speak the truth.”
A new concept for him? He wasn’t so keen on the truth when they’d met, but Cara didn’t break the mood with that remark.
“Gabriella is thrilled about wearing our mother’s wedding gown. I should’ve thought of it myself. You made that happen for her.”
“No, I only thought of it. You made it happen.”
“It wasn’t so hard, was it? And now my sister is happy.”
She smiled and grabbed her purse from a patio table. Slinging it over her shoulder, she began walking inside the house. “I think we’re through for today. I should get to work.”
“I’ll walk you out.” Alex put his hand to her back, escorting her through his house to the front door. He opened it and stepped onto the front steps. A path of multicolored paving stones led them to her car. She turned to say goodbye. “I guess...I’ll see you at the wedding tomorrow.”
He blinked, his lips sealing off a tight smile. “Yes. Tomorrow.” His hand came out to rest on the right side of her face, his long brown fingertips gentle on her cheek. “I won’t forget your help today.”
“I didn’t mind help—”
With a dip of his head, he brushed the softest, featherlike kiss onto her lips. She closed her eyes to the divine sensation and after it was over, she took a long, deep breath. Wow.
In a daze, she got into her car, and Alex closed the door for her. She pulled away, glancing at him through the rearview mirror. He stood straight and tall, his perfect espresso eyes bidding her farewell until she pulled through the mansion gates and drove onto the open road.
* * *
Later that day, Alex walked into the Cattleman’s Club and came face-to-face with Paul Windsor, who’d just come in from the tennis courts. The older man spotted him and scowled. He moved quickly to head Alex off, his feet spread apart, blocking the entrance to a private meeting room.
“You’re not going to get away with it, del Toro.”
“Get away with what?” Alex struggled to keep his voice calm. Windsor would get what was coming to him soon.
Windsor’s blue eyes were cool as steel. “You’re a menace to this club. You’ve lied and cheated your way in and now it’s time for you to leave. I helped start this club. I’m a charter member. And the last time I checked, we didn’t allow frauds to run the show.”
Hot, thick blood raced through Alex’s veins. A pulse in his neck throbbed. He had yet to see the man who’d ordered him beaten and kidnapped until this minute. Now that he remembered everything, he wondered how such a scoundrel could father a woman like Cara. “Windsor, the last time I checked, I was still a member in good standing at this club.”
“Don’t think I won’t change that.”
“You’ve tried. It hasn’t worked so far.”
“You think you can buy your way back into everyone’s good graces by giving away a scholarship? You won that vote by default. None of the members wanted to decline for the sake of the children. There’re a lot of good people here who still want nothing to do with you, del Toro. Including my daughter. I always knew you were no good for her.”
“Leave Cara out of this,” Alex said, his teeth gnashing. Windsor was exaggerating. Already some members were commending his idea. He hoped other members would forgive him in time. And honestly, if his funding helped children attend college, then he wouldn’t worry about what the haters had to say.
“Why should I? You used her to spy on my company. You lied to her, and I’m only grateful she had the good sense to back away from you herself when she found out your deceit. No one tries to take my company down or hurt my daughter without paying the consequences.”
“Interesting how you put that, Windsor. It almost sounds like a threat. Because we all know that Chance McDaniel had nothing to do with having me kidnapped and roughed up.”
“Chance is a good man. My daughter should’ve married him.”
His hands closed into two tight fists. Windsor hit a nerve. Damn it. Chance had dated Cara and they’d been pretty serious. Then Alex had moved in the second he met her at a TCC party. Meeting her had been a slam dunk, something out of his control. He’d fallen for her fast, and she’d returned the feelings. Chance had done the honorable thing in stepping aside, but some believed his friend harbored enough bad feelings and jealousy to hurt Alex. Hopefully, some of that suspicion would be put to rest after Chance’s wedding to his sister. And once Alex could get all the proof he needed for Windsor’s arrest, Chance’s name would finally be cleared.
Deep down, Alex often wondered if Cara wouldn’t have been better off with Chance. Now, Alex knew better. Chance belonged with Gabriella the same way Alex belonged with Cara.
“You’re hedging, Windsor. Everyone knows how much you hated me.”
Windsor’s eyes flickered. “Are you making an accusation, del Toro?”
Alex wasn’t going to reveal too much yet, but he wanted to be on the spot when the arrest was finally made. The only regret he’d had in seeking justice for the crimes committed against him was that Cara would be hurt. Her father was a criminal. That news would surely alter her life. “I’m making an observation.”
Wearing a polo shirt and tennis shorts, Paul Windsor hardly looked imposing. He crossed his arms over his chest, his mouth twisting into a snarl. “I thought so. You don’t have anything on me.”
Alex raised a brow. “Are you sure of that?”
Another flicker of doubt crossed Windsor’s features. “You can’t prove a thing.”
“If you’re innocent you have nothing to worry about, Paul. Now, step aside. I have a meeting.”
“You don’t scare me.” But the tremor in his raspy voice gave him away.
“Maybe I should. Think about it.” Alex stepped past Windsor and opened the door, leaving the man standing there befuddled.
Six
“That should do it,” Cara said, fastening the last button on Gabriella’s wedding gown in the guest bedroom Alex had offered for the bridal room. The gown fit Gabriella’s slim body perfectly and the ivory color added lovely accents to her glowing Latin complexion. She wore only delicate flowers in hair that was swept off one shoulder and draped over the other shoulder in soft
curls.
A champagne bucket and tall flutes, chocolate-dipped strawberries and pastries lay untouched on a silver platter brought in by Maria, Alex’s housekeeper. Not that the lavish fare wasn’t appetizing, but both of them were too excited to take a taste.
“Stunning. Wait’ll Chance sees you in this dress,” Cara remarked to Gabriella’s reflection in the mirror. “He’ll count his blessings that he was smart enough not to let you slip through his fingers.”
“Thank you, Cara. I am so excited I can barely stand it. But you are beautiful in your dress, as well. A good choice we made, wouldn’t you say?”
Gabriella had picked it out, and from the second Cara tried it on, she knew it was the right one. Sewn with a handkerchief design, higher in front than back, and made of crinkle wisteria-blue chiffon, the bodice crisscrossed her chest and flared from there, hiding any thickening of her middle in an empire style. “Yes, I’m happy with the dress. But today is not about me.”
She walked to the queen-size bed in Alex’s guest room, picked up a white satin-ribboned bridal bouquet from the florist’s box and handed it to her. “Here you go. The final touch. We are due downstairs very soon.”
She gave Gabriella one last glance, her heart humming with warmth for her friend. As she held her own small bouquet of white roses, the feeling accompanied her out of the bedroom and down the staircase as she held Gabriella’s hand. She met with Rodrigo del Toro’s gaze at the base of the stairs.
Cara had never seen the softer side of Alex’s father. But today, because Gabriella had pleaded with him to attend, and Alex had laid on the guilt, convincing him that he’d regret missing his only daughter’s wedding and telling him of Gabriella’s fondest wish to be married in her mother’s gown with her father walking her down the aisle, Rodrigo had finally agreed. Now his eyes brimmed with pride for his daughter.
Cara gave him a rigid smile as they reached the bottom of the staircase, and he smiled graciously back.
She kissed Gabriella’s cheek. “I will see you at the altar.” The she turned to Rodrigo. “Mr. del Toro.” She greeted him only for Gabriella’s sake and then strode to the dining room to peer at the backyard filling up with guests.
THE TEXAS RENEGADE REURNS Page 9
